THE PURPLE ICE PLANT IS COMING TO A SHORE NEAR YOU.

Hi everyone,

My dad just came home from his men's Bible study, so I'll have to make this particular post a shore one.

If you ever have a chance to visit California, you should come to Pacific Grove during the month of May and June. Why?  The purple ice plant is in bloom all along the shore. It's starting to bloom now, but it'll be a veritable blanket of beautiful purple in just a few short weeks.

Here are some photos for you.  I just can't get enough of the ocean. I've been home sick, but I'll make any excuse to spend some time near the water.

  


























Okay, this first photo is NOT the purple ice plant. However, when I go to Pacific Grove, I usually drive through Cannery Row. That's always fun to see the people and the buildings etc. This is Stohans Gallery. It's sat empty like this for YEARS. I'm sure somebody owns the property, but I'm not sure if anything will ever be done with it. In truth, I kind of like it just the way it is.

This is the beautiful purple ice plant that is starting to bloom. In March it's just a few little blooms, but look at what we've got already in April...and wait till May comes around.  It's going to be beautiful :) :)

It was also a beautiful, sunny day as you can see.  It's really quite a thing to see and it only last for a couple of months. So I always make sure to take loads of photos.  

I might have mentioned earlier that I'm recovering from a cold, so spending time out by the water yesterday really helped. There's something about the sunshine that helps to clear up my sinuses.

 














 You may have to click on the above photo to enlarge it a bit, since I took this photo in panorama view.  This is part of the coastline in Pacific Grove and that purple ice plant is just amazing. I learned that this particular plant is actually native to South Africa.  

I'll leave you all with this photo. This is one of many rest stops along the coast.  People will often just come park their cars here and sit for awhile staring out at the water.  This day was relatively calm, although the waves were crashing quite high, too.  I usually stand right on that ledge and take photos, but it was making my father a bit nervous. So I obliged and stayed a safer distance away :) :) :)

What's been happening where you're at?  That's the news from the ocean shores of California today. Love and hugs, Heather :)


p.s. EEEK...squeals of delight. I was the featured blogger today at MaryJane's Farm websight.  I am also a Mary Jane's Farmgirl Sisterhood member #2176. In any case, click here to check out the GirlGab site for some other awesome blogs. Click here to visit the MaryJane's Farm site and consider subscribing to the magazine. It's got everything farmgirl, frilly, glamping, country, organic and everything else good. THANK YOU to Mary Jane's Farm for featuring this blog post today. You really made my entire week :) :)

AVOCADO ICE CREAM

Hi everyone, I seem to be on an experimental-cooking frenzy lately.  That's okay. It is been well worth it, and very tasty too. As many of you many know, I subscribe to MaryJane's Farm magazine.  This magazine, and all other things related to MaryJane's Farm is lots of fun. I'm even a member of the Farmgirl Sisterhood. My member number is #2176 to be exact.  In any case, the June/July issue of MaryJanesFarm magazine arrived in my mailbox a few days ago. A I was "oohing and ahing"  over all the great recipes, craft projects etc, I stumbled upon this fabulous recipe. It's for avocado ice cream. yes, you heard me right, avocado ice cream. I've never eaten avocadoes before, so this was something I absolutely had to try. Mine turned out like this:

THIS IS MY VERY FIRST BATCH OF AVOCADO ICE CREAM. I DIDN'T HAVE A FOOD PROCESSOR. SO I HAD TO TRY AND PUREE IT MY HAND USING  A FORK AND A POTATO MASHER. IT DIDN'T WORK OUT TERRIBLY WELL. MY ICE CREAM WAS MORE LIKE AVOCADO CHIP. HOWEVER, IN SPITE OF THAT, IT STILL TASTED VERY, VERY HEAVENLY .

Here is the recipe, if you'd like to try it for yourself. It tastes like the best lemon ice cream, even though it has avocado in it. You do not taste the avocado at all.  It makes about three cups of ice cream:

Ingredients:
* 1 large avocado, peeled and diced
* 1 cup half-and-half
* 2/3 cup powdered sugar
*1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
* 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

First, combine ALL the ingredients in a blender. Puree until it is completely smooth.

Second, pour the mixture into a 2-quart baking dish.

Third,  cover and freeze it till firm, about four hours. (my freezer it took much longer than that, so you  may have to freeze it overnight)

Fourth, before serving, let stand at room te mperature for 15 minutes. Use an ice-cream or watermelon scoop to serve. The magazine suggests topping it with fresh fruit or mango salsa.

That's the news from Oregon today. Love and hugs, Heather :)